Intermittent flush valve



May 24, 1949. w. 5. WHITE 2,470,798

INTEfiMIT'IENT FLUSH VALVE Filed April 3, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-I'- INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY WILLIAM 5. WHITE May 24, 1949. w. 5-. WHITE INTERMITIENT FLUSH VALVE Filed April 5, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-4" WILL/AM 5. WHITE INVENTOR.

BY 45am A TTORNEY y 1949- w. 5. WHITE 2,470,798

INTERMI TTENT FLUSH VALVE Filed April '6, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-3 WILL MM 5. WHITE INVENTOR.

Maw M ATTORNEY Patented May 24 1949 UNITED- fiii'iA'li'EZS "PATENT @FFICEJ 1 Glaim.

This invention relates to flush valves, and more particularly relates-tdthatplass of'valves designed for automaticintermittent operation.

The present disclosure-is;relatedto the disclosurein my-co-pending application Serial No. 330,982;filed- Ap1?i1 22', i940, {for-Intermittent flow valve; and-features--disclosed but not claimed herein'have been claimed in said application, now Patent him-2,315,570;

Itis an object of thepresent invention to provide a simple; durable and efficient flush valve that is'suited for-.a variety of uses.

Another objectof "the invention is to provide a controliof the'dischargeaction of-fiush valves of-theiabove described character to eliminate the occurrence ofwatersham nen-in the pipelines with which it is connected;

Afurther objectofthe invention is to provide amanner-in whichthe volume of discharge-of such a valve "may be changed;

Other objects reside in-noveldetails of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, all 'of'which will be described fully in the course of" the following description.

Typical embodiments of the invention have been illustrated-lathe accompanying drawings; and in the drawingsin theseveralviews of which like; parts have been designated similarly,

Figure l is a vertical central section through a valve embodying features ofthe present invention and illustrating the position of component parts at an early-stage of the filling operation;

Figure 2 is another-vertical central section of the valve illustrated in Figure 1 showing the position of partsduring the flushing action;

Figure 2a is a fragmentary-detail vertical section illustrating-the upper and lower notched seats in theparts surrounding top and bottom passages 3! and-32', respectively; which are-adapted to be closed by ball valve 30;

Figure 2b is a-topplan view ofthe structure shown in Figure 2a;

Figure -3 'is a vertical central section through another valve-embodying ieatures of the present invention, and-illustrating the arrangement of parts'at an early stage in the filling operation;

Figure 4 is avertical central section of the valve shown in Figure showing the arrange- O merit of 'parts duringthe flushing action;

Figure his a diagrammatic view illustrating F one type of--installation in which the valves of the present inventionare used; and

Figure Sis-an enlarged-partial cross-section taken-along line 6- -8 of Figure -3.

Referring first to-the formof the inventionillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the valve comprises a casing C having an inlet i intermediate its ends and a discharge outlet 8 at one end. The end of the casing opposite outlet 8 is closed by a suitable cap member 9 preferably having a resilient gasket in engaging the end of casing C. This cap member has a central recess l2, the function of which-will be described subsequently.

Preferably, the interior of the casing '0 is formed into portionsof different diameter. The portion extending between inlet l andthe end of the casing closed by cap member 9 constitutes a cylinder is of greatest diameter, while the'interior oi casing Cbetween inlet! and outlet 8 is formed into a second cylinder Hi of lesser diameter than cylinder l3, and which terminates at a distance from outlet thin a bore [5 of lesser diameter than cylinder ltbut of greater diameter than outlet 8. Twodiametrically opposed openings It are provided in the walls of bore l5, the function of which will be explained hereinafter.

A piston member, or primary piston .P,' pref-. erably doublerheaded, is mounted for reciprocate ing movement in cylinder l3 and divides same into a receiving chamber ldand a pressure cham-. ber H). In this form of the invention, the piston includes an upper head formed by a disk 20, and a two part flexible cup washer 2 l, 2ia clampingly held on a threaded stud 22 by a nutmember 23. A tubular body member 24 having a series of radially disposed passages 25 depends from the head portion or upperhead and terminates in a second head portion or lower head, formed by a second two part flexible cup washer 26, 26a supported by a ring member 21 held on body member Ed by a nut 28.

The primary piston P is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly by the difference in force, created by liquid pressure exerted-against the upper head and the lower head, but when pressure is exerted in chamber id sufficientto create a force which will overcome the above differential force, the piston will be moved downwardly. The disk Ethas a close fit with cylinder 53 and the cup Washer 2%, 2m provides a leakprooi packing for the upper head of the piston, although permitting movement. of said head. without undue irictionalresistance, while ring 2'5 and itsassociated cup washer 2%, Eta have, a close fit with cylinder hi and provide a leak-proof. packing, while permitting movement of the lower head without undue resistance.

To provide a check valve for restraining iiow 1 to and from chamber iii, a, hollow nut 2915151119:-

ported on the top of stud 22 and has a ball 36 adapted for movement in opposite directions to close a top passage 3| or a bottom passage 32 in said nut. The ball 30 is adapted to engage a lower or upper seat at the entrance to passage 3| or 32, respectively, and these seats may be notched, as shown, to control the rate of flow into and out of chamber l9. As the primary piston P moves upwardly, nut 29 is received by recess I2 in cap 9, as in Fig. 1, the recess l2 thus permittin casing C to be shorter and cap 9 to be lighter. A hollow stem. 33 is supported in depending relation in stud 22 and has its lower end flanged to provide a restriction in the path of liquid flowing down outside stem 33 and also to provide a seat for a threaded collar member 34, at the upper end of a secondary piston S, which is reciprocable within and sometimes lifted by the primary piston P. Collar 34 carries a flexible washer or other packing 35, which provides a leak-proof seal with the interior wall of body member 24. A cylindrical plug 36 is inserted in the hollow interior of stem 33 and held to limited larged head 39, extends out of the lower end of stem 33 as a lengthwise extension thereof, and has limited oscillatory movement relative to the 38 is adapted to convey water to and from its lower end and pressure chamber I9, via tube 33, while the head 39 of conduit 38 may be closed by plug 36, at certain times. The limit of oscillatory movement of conduit 38 is provided by a collar 40 which is fixed on conduit 38 in spaced relation to head 33, and also provides a valve between the primary and secondary pistons, as described later.

The secondary piston S also includes a hollow tube 4! threadedly attached to collar member 34 and extending in encompassing relation to conduit 38. The lower end of the tubular body 45 has an internal annular stop member which acts as a seat for collar 40 at certain times. Tube 4! also is exteriorly flanged as indicated at 4-2, providing a seat for a two part cup washer 43, 43a which is held in place thereon by a hollow stem 44 having at its end an external thread on which an outlet valve ball 45 is mounted. The upper end of the secondary piston slides upwardly and downwardly within the primary piston, with the packing 35 in sealing engagement with the piston, as in Fig. 2, when the flange at the lower end of tube 33 engages collar member 34.

Reciprocable cup R includes a tube 45 loosely supported in recess l5 and held for limited movean open-ended cylinder 48 at its upper end and the flanged end 42 washer d3, 43a function as cylinder. An extension 39 58 provides a seat for ball 45 and the movement of cylinder 43 and tube 45 to its lower position as shown in Figure 2, will effect a valve-opening movement, the details of which will be described hereinafter.

The stem 41% has adjacent its lower end one or plurality of openings 50 permittin filling of the interior of cylinder 48 with liquid descending through stem 38 or tube 4|, so long as ball 45 remains on its seat on member 49.

In operation, the inlet 7 will be connected with a piston head in said at the end of cylinder interior of tubular body member 24. From there, the water passes between the exterior of stem 33 and the interior of collar 34, and thence into the interior of tube 4!, flowing past the flange at the lower end of stem 33. It will be understood that the receiving cup R is full and the water therein S in its upper position, so that the incoming water passes from the As soon as the pressure in chamber i9 is sufiicient to overcome the pressure in chamber it (which is also exerted against the lower end of the primary piston) the primary piston begins to downwardly. The downward movement of the primary piston P takes place relatively slowly, due to the regulated fiow around ball 30 through the slots or notches in seat 3!. During such downward movement of the primary piston, the secondary piston. S and cup R maintain their relative positions, due to the pressure within the cup exerted against the secondary piston, and

pushes collar 40 against stop member 5!, which closes the passage around conduit 38, between the interior of tube 4| and stem 44. The primary and secondary pistons, and conduit 38 are then in the relative positions of Fig. 2, ball valve 45 being seated, however.

Water then continues to flow for a slight period to the pressure chamber i9, as through the slot the secondary piston S begins to be pushed downwardly by the primary piston P. This causes ball valve 45 to unseat slightly, as to the full position of Fig. 2. Also, the cup B may move downwardly until the upper edge of slot 47a strikes pin 41. The water in cup R begins to drain to the outlet, while the water in stem 44 begins to drain through the opening 53. This release of pressure within cup R causes the secondary piston to descend, valve 45 moving to the dotted position of Fig. 2. At this time, opening 50 clears extension 49, so that stem M will drain more directly to the outlet.

When the discharge begins, the ball 33 is reversed in position, due to flow from pressure chamber I9, instead of to the pressure chamber, as during the downward movement of the primary piston P. Due to the reduction in pressure in chamberl 9"; the primarypiston thembegins to move-upwardly;- from :the'wpositiom of Figiq2 .1 Duringndischargeg-not onl-y does water ilow from the pressurewchamber lagibut else-around stem 33? from; receiving chamb'erliifiand then around conduit 38i end-into the inter-ion of stemzfliiiito join =the water-discharging from chamber l9. the primary piston moves--upwardly ;-=the flange at th'e lower end-of-tubd33 catches head '39 'of con-' unseats fromits -seat 5i 1 and water also flows fromnchainbe'r I fii'b'etween stem 33' and collar flfi thencearound-eollar 40 and-through stem 44* to the outlet; As soon as the-primary piston P'begins to lift the secondary "piston"S,** due-to-the flange at l the lower end of stem 32 engaging'the lower end :of' 1 collar 31 of the =-seeondai-y piston; the secondary piston S and cupR' 'are pulled-rip wardly until the lower end-of slot 412:? in -cup -'R engages pin 41 Further upward =movement "oi the secondary-- piston s will close the: ball valve; such movement being assisted by the v flow -of water-through-rhole 50: into' then-cup R3 The variousiparts areftheniin the positiOnzotEiE; l, the pressnrec in .cuptR :maintaining. therseconda'ry piston-"S its upper: position-,itas :primaryrpiston: P begins toqdescend ion the= next eyelet- 1 As will be evident; the: ball ivalve 45 'remainsclosed" during i substantially. all 'ofi'ythe'" downward.

movementof primary-piston? but. remains aopen 1 soy. that: discharger-takesa iplace rduring:;;upward movement of primary :pistomP.-= lirjdesiredu the collarl llhmay beconstruetedzso asto extend; outwardly to the inner edge of tube 4|, to guide-con duit 38 duringits-npwardand downward movement.= The rate oinmovementwof-primary piston? P may be regulatedbyg varying-the. clearance bee tweemtheflange at the lower-"end of stem @Eand: the interior ofrtubel l-z Also,-.upward,and,.downes Ward'movenai'ent.ofprimarypistonl maylbe'regues lated-zby. varying theznumber and or size oislots. in :the. upperand lowerxseats' fir ball-1302 i It will -bepundersto'oda;ofiscourse; that the: dis charge of water-:iroxmcylindeie 48; atten a;;slight opening of: the :valve; takes :place relatively-slowly; so. that any tendency toward water hammer that. might :ensue from-z' too; abrupt "release of? liquidxisavoided. Also; it will be:observed that the closure; of seat 5l =bycollar 405-811(153150thBZCIOSLHBIOf the" upper end "of t stem 381Irby p1ugi '36,: prevent the escape of ::-liquid lirom': chamber. 1 9'- until Zit-heiprie mary' pistomha's :fully ,de'scendedtp'and .a further release ,of: waterz'from: cylinder ABrpermitstthe secondary: piston'fto: bee-moved. downwardly sand: seat 5i to draiv away iromscollar.MI,=thus1assur+ ingv a positive beginning; of the next .operation in: the. cycle.- Itt will be=further*observedathatare ciprocal' -movement 10f cupzRfwhiie theuvalvei-ball: 45 is i in closed position; .provides :additional: time; between discharges.

In the: arrangement Just: described: I- prefer. 1 to. use the double cup: .washerxsarrangementr .illus=-' trated in .:Figuresz1 and*2.-1. However, it willibe understood that each %of said cup washers 2i 2 m and. 26-; 26a andASJSa; are provided s'olely for the purpose of: functioning as leak-proof packing" and any other form of leakproof packing-capable of "functioning without= impeding the-operative movement of-the'-par-ts maybs substituted' in: place of the doublecupwashers illustrated -*in- Figures'l and2v.

Similarly; the parts serving as pistons; and the: parts serving asconduits may be changed informand dimension as requiredgfso; long. as theifuncl drawings:

' teriorzbetween cylinder large headwhich comprises tionvofzsuchipartsr is tnotimpainedx': However-,1

have foundlzthe;.-present arrangement :of .cpartsto' be a highly satisfactory way of attainingztheadee sired.- .-:.de1ayed; 1 discharge action qpreviouslya" described. An increase: in. the: rate of flowxscauses chamber! 9 to'sfiil more rapidly: and discharge; to" take: placexrover a shorteraperiod of-xtime while a decrease -'in? the rate of 2' flow has .the opposite effect.

The iorm tor. theinvention exemplified .in Figures 3;4 and:6 involves'a tion in; that a quick :opening discharge desired cate of 'athat just described.

In thisifo'rmzof the invention the casing.iC"'is closed at itsiwider end by'a cap extension :6 l and intermediateiitsl ends a .GlSGhZLLEBi outlet cap (extension 6 iii 84': near.

ciivalve functions effectively regardless ofwhich site an'angcnient has-been illustrated in *2. the

When the passage drained *as Win be more fully explained herein diameteraand: a second lesseirzdiametery The portion of the casin'ginsame: diameteiaas cylinder 68:

A (primary: piston P is mounted for reciprocatiomiinf cylinder. 6'? "and preferably includes a her 1& carrying cup Washer l i and backingplatealziri 'C10SB flttlllg relation to-th'ewalls of cylinder'xli A-hoil'ow valve housing. idismountedico'axi'a yiwithistud member '56- and is disposed betweerepistorcP and the endof extension member-:6 Irit Thedetailsof the construction and functionllfiflfth'elVBJVEhOllSlTlE WlH be explained subsequently;

on the opposite side 01" the large head 0f the piston a tuhular-bodyt'i'dus carried. on stud 1b and has a "series-oi radially disposed openings i 5 actiacentzthe study Tiibe end: awsmalleii: head i 0fiSt0n- P' comprising a studs 72 sai provided with cup washers adapted to engage theiinner wall of casing section or cylin der. BBzand also se'aling::-means :ior -seconda ry pistones; which. slides :withi-n stud- '71 ia'- Y includes a threaded for sliding movement along 75 stem, liiaandin threaded connection vwithLasleeve has a an :inlet nipple 62: with its end- :remote from In addition; an end opening orzpassage fit is provided toconnect the interior of the casing with an accumulator tank-thin av mmanner, hereinafter-to be described; This type 631s upwardly dirented; lit'iusually will be preferable to-have a drain zcockli fi 55 mounted'at the end 0f extension member it 1;. se that the: entire system: may be 5 i'i'fiand passage 6-3 is of" somewhatttirregularcontour but substantially the a threaded stud them-"- I l-carries at its lower- Tube l ll encases a: hollcw ste'm 'ifi 'threadedl y connected- Bl, which in turn connects with a hollow conduit member 32 which extends through casing C and out of passage 63.

A valve 83 normally closing the end of passage 53 is mounted adjacent the end of conduit 82 and is movable in a manner hereinafter to be described, to a position remote from the end of passage 63 to admit liquid through the passage and out of the valve through discharge opening 64.

This form of valve employs a quick opening action and for that reason is well suited for use as the control valve of a lawn sprinkling system. Such an arrangement has been illustrated in Figure 5. Preferably, the valve V is mounted in the service room 3 of a residence or other building, and is connected through inlet nipple 62 with the water supply of said building. The passage 33 connects with a pressure storage tank 65 of substantial size and the discharge opening or outlet t4 connects with a distributing system represented by the dotted lines 85, having a plurality of discharge nozzles or jets til disposed to sprinkle a lawn, shrubbery or the like illustrated by the diagrammatic representation 37.

At the beginning of a given operating cycle water from inlet 82 passes into cylinder 6? and moves the piston P to the position shown in Figure 3. This movement of the piston draws the valve 83 tight against its seat preventing any movement of liquid in and out of passage 63, particularly to outlet Gd. Water entering cylinder 6? passes through openings it and travels between stem it and collar 85 which has a slight clearance therewith for regulatory purposes. The water also passes around flange Ti, which may be provided with notches or slots to more readily conduct the water, and thus reaches the open end of conduit 82. Liquid continues to pass through conduit 82 into storage tank 35 for a considerable interval and as the filling progresses the body of air trapped in tank 65 is compressed to a progressively greater degree until the pressure in tank 65 balances the pressure at inlet 62. The pressure in tank 35 also holds valve 83 against its seat, since there is little or no pressure in outlet 63. To balance the pressure at inlet 62, the pressure in tank -35 need not be as great as the inlet pressure, since the pressure on the opposite side of the large head of the piston need not be as great as the inlet or receiving chamber pressure to produce a force which will overcome the differential force produced against the primary piston in the receiving chamber. Thus, an equilibriurn is reached before the pressure in the tank becomes as great as the inlet pressure.

When this equilibrium is reached, piston begins to move downwardly slowly until abutment i9 closes the end of conduit 82. At this time, water no longer able to travel through conduit 82 passes instead through openings 78 and the hollow interior of stem 76 until it reaches valve housing 73. A plurality of passages indicated by the dotted line representations 88, extend from the end of housing 13 adjacent stud Hi to its opposite capped end and there connect with a passageway 89 to reach a central hollow portion 98 of housing I3. A ball valve 9! controls the flow through hollow portion 90, which connects with two laterally extending ports 92, the relatively slow flow to the space on the cap side of the primary piston taking place through bleed openings or slots, around the seat, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4.

The force of the entering stream of Water is sufilcient to completely unseat the ball 9| even when the valve casing 60 is in the reverse position from that illustrated and consequently the water discharging from ports 82 acts on piston P to drive the same relatively rapidly away from extension Gl. This movement opens valve 83 slightly, and the flow around valve 83 to the outlet reduces the pressure on the reservoir side of the valve. Such action takes place with sufficient velocity to force a rapid further movement of piston P toward the end of cylinder 68, there by unseating valve 83 and maintaining considerable distance from the end of passage 63, as will be best understood by reference to Figure 4.

The accumulated contents of tank 65 are thereupon forcibly discharged through the action of the compressed gas cushion therein and travel out of discharge opening 64 and through distributing system 85. The resulting release of pressure on movement of the piston which commences under the force of the water entering through inlet 62. However, the escape of the contents of cylinder t7 requires the liquid to flow past ball valve 9| through the bleed shown in Figure 3 for a substantial interval, fording ample opportunity for the liquid content of tank 65 to discharge through outlet fi l before the piston movement has progressed to a degree sufficient to again seat valve 83.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An intermittent flush valve comprising a casing having a portion of larger diameter and an inlet communicating therewith, and a portion of smaller diameter and an outlet communicating therewith; a double-headed primary piston having one head in said portion of larger diameter and dividing said portion into a receiving chamber communicating with said inlet and a pressure chamber on the opposite side of said head, and a second head in said portion of smaller diameter; a tube connecting said heads of larger and smaller diameter and provided with openings for admitting liquid from said receiving chamber to the interior thereof; a stem extendin centrally from the head of larger diameter within said tube and provided with inwardly and outwardly extending flanges at the lower end thereof; a ball valve and seats provided with flow regulating notches disposed in a bore extending through said head of larger diameter and communicating with said stem; a tubular member having a head disposed within said stem and adapted to be lifted by said inwardly extending flange; a collar attached to said tubular member and adapted to be moved into sealing engagement with a seat therefor; a reciprocable cup having a predetermined limited motion and having a valve seat adjacent said outlet; a secondary piston extending into sealing engagement with said cup at one end and at the other end into sealing engagement with the inner wall of said tube, and provided with a seat for said collar and means cooperating with said outwardly extending flange, whereby said primary piston is adapted to lift said secondary piston; a valve attached to the end of a tubular member extending from said secondary piston opposite said primary piston and adapted to cooperate with the valve seat on said cup, for controlling the flow of water to said outlet, said tubular member extending through said cup and being provided with an aperture adapted to permit a greater flow to said outlet from the interior UNITED STATES PATENTS of said secondary piston upon opening movement Number Name Date of said outlet valve, said tubular member also 707 395 Curtis Aug 17 1902 extending through a tubular portion of said cup 996751 Lam-[6y Apr 1911 and providing a clearance therewith to permit 5 drainage of said cup upon opening of said outlet FQREIGN PATENTS valve.

W HIT Number Country Date W E 243,282 Germany 1912 REFERENCES CITED 10 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

